Description:The Licensing Act 1902 stated "If a person is found drunk in any highway or other public place, whether a building or not, or on any licensed premises, and appears to be incapable of taking care of himself, he may be apprehended and dealt with according to law."
If convicted, their names would be placed on a register and Section 6 (3) of the Act made the following provision: "Regulations shall be made by the police authority for the purpose of securing the giving of information to licensed persons and secretaries of clubs registered under Part III. of this Act of orders made under this section, and for assisting in the identification of the convicted persons."
"The register of portraits and descriptions of habitual drunkards was initially produced in 1902 by the Birmingham Watch Committee as a response to the high levels of dipsomania prevalent in the city and accompanied by its oft unwelcome buddy of public affray and general rowdiness. Each public house in the city centre was issued with a copy of the register so they could call upon this trusty Edwardian version of the Photofit – CSI Downton. Officer!!!"
Paul Taylor
[41.9 Birmingham Collection, Level 4, Library of Birmingham]